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Crossbow for Atari 8-bit Computers FAQ/Walkthrough

by BHodges

Version  1.0
Created  12/26/11

This document Copyright © 2011 by Brian Hodges.  It may not be placed on any
web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. 

Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is 
strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.

All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.

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Table of Contents

I.     Introduction
II.    Background Story
III.   Getting Started
IV.    Basic Gameplay
         A.  Overview
         B.  Basic Strategies
         C.  Friends
         D.  XG-1 (Light Gun)
V.     Map
VI.    Danger Zones
         A.  Desert
         B.  Caverns
         C.  Volcano
         D.  Jungle
         E.  Village
         F.  River
         G.  Drawbridge
         H.  Castle Hall
         I.  Evil Master
VII.   Game Review
VIII.  Version History
IX.    Contact Information

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I.     Introduction

This is a FAQ/Walkthrough for the Atari 8-bit Computer game Crossbow.  It
contains information on playing the game, a complete map, details on each of
the Danger Zones, and a mini-review.

*******************************************************************************
II.    Background Story

Here is the background story from the instruction booklet:

"Over scorching deserts, through dark, icy caverns, around a fiery volcano, and
under the leafy cover of a steamy jungle, you set out with three brave friends
to retrieve the treasures stolen by the Evil Master.  Your goal is his castle,
far, far away.

Your friends are lightly armed, but you carry your trusty crossbow.  By
shooting its swift arrows, you can save yourself and your companions from the
dangerous attacks of the Master's Evil Creatures - scorpions, ants,
pterodactyls, voracious plants, bats, snakes, and other horrible beings.

When you reach the castle, the Evil Master's expert archers await you, ready to
test their aim with deadly arrows.  Inside the castle, a fierce dragon also
waits, guarding the treasure with its fiery breath.

Few adventurers have dared to make this trek.  No one yet has come back alive."

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III.   Getting Started

Before powering on your Atari, make sure the XG-1 light gun is plugged into
controller port one.

Once the Title Screen appears, shoot anywhere to go to the Map Screen.  You
now have a choice of taking the Red Path (to the Village) or the Green Path
(to the Desert).  To select a path, shoot the corresponding box.  If you take
too long, the game will randomly choose a path for you.

*******************************************************************************
IV.    Basic Gameplay

...............................................................................
A.  Overview

The object of the game is to traverse the various Danger Zones and defeat the
Evil Master.  In order to complete a Danger Zone you must protect your Friends
while they cross the screen from left to right.

The light gun acts as a crossbow with unlimited ammo; shoot anything that
threatens your Friends!  As your Friends cross the screen they will collect
any treasure they walk over.

...............................................................................
B.  Basic Strategies

-  DON'T SHOOT YOUR FRIENDS!  The first time you hit one, a warning message
   will appear.  Hit a Friend a second time and they will DIE!

-  Try to take out enemies as soon as they appear.

-  The Evil Master is always watching.  His eye will appear once in every
   Danger Zone, shoot it to earn 5,000 bonus points.

-  After defeating the Evil Master, I recommend taking a different path than
   before so you can recruit new Friends.

-  If you need a breather, you can pause the game by pressing the Select key.

...............................................................................
C.  Friends

You begin the game with three Friends.  Your goal is to cover them with your
crossbow while they slowly traverse the Danger Zone from left to right.  The
game ends when all of your Friends have been killed.  More Friends will join
you after completing certain Danger Zones.

...............................................................................
D.  XG-1 (Light Gun)

Tips

-  The XG-1 will only work on older, standard definition CRT television sets.
   It will NOT work on computer monitors or HD TVs.

-  According to the Atari XE Owner's Manual, the XG-1 is most accurate at a
   distance of 3-5 feet from the screen.

-  Make sure you are squarely in front of the TV.

-  When aiming down the sight, you want the square to cover your target.

-  Increasing the screen brightness will increase the light gun's accuracy.

-  Interestingly, it's possible to play Crossbow using the Atari Light Pen
   (CX-70 or CX-75).  Unfortunately there is no way to calibrate so there will
   be quite a bit of offset.

*******************************************************************************
V.     Map

     ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
     g                                                                     g
     g      rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr                             g
     g   gggrgggggggggggggggggg      ggggggggrgggggggggggggggggggggggggg   g
     g   g  r _ _ _ _ _bbbbbbbbb     g_ _ _ _r                         g   g
     g   g   |         |      gbbbbbb|        |                        g   g
     gggggggg| Desert  |      g      | Cavern |bbbbbbb                 g   g
            g|_ _ _ _ _|      g     b|_ _ _ _ |      b                 g   g
           g b        gr      g     b         g      b                 g   g
          g  b       g r      g     bbbbbbb   g      b     _ _ _ _ _ _ g   g
         g   b      g  r      ggggggggg   b   g      bbbbb|            |   g
         g   b     g   r              g    bbbgbbbb       | Drawbridge |   g
 _ _ _ _g    b    g    rrrrr _ _ _ _ _g       g   b       |_ _ _ _ _ _ |   g
|       |    b   g    rrrrrr|         |       g   b         r        br    g
| Start |    b   g   r      | Volcano |bbbb   g   bbbbbbbb  r        br    g
|_ _ _ _|    b  g   r       |_ _ _ _ _|   b   g          b  r        br    g
        r    b g   r          r       r   b   g   _ _ _ _b  r        br    g
        r    bg   r           r      r    b   ggg|        |rr        br    g
       r   ggg   r            r     r     bbbbbbb| Jungle |          br    g
      r   g  b  r             r    r           gg|_ _ _ _ |ggggggggggggggggg
     r    g  b r              r    r           g  b                  br
     r ggg   b r              rrrrrrrrrr       g  bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbr
    r g_ _ _ br                  r     r   ggggg      rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    |         |                 r      r   g          r
    | Village |                r       r   g          r   _ _ _ _ _ _ _
    |_ _ _ _ _|g               r_ _ _ _r   g          rrr|             |
               gggg            |       |   g             | Castle Hall |
                   gggggggggggg| River |gggg             |_ _ _ _ _ _ _|
                               |_ _ _ _|                              o
                                                                     o
                                                                    o
                                                                 _ o _ _ _ _ _
                                                                |             |
                                                                | Evil Master |
                                                                |_ _ _ _ _ _ _|
Key

r       Red Path
g       Green Path
b       Blue Path
o       Only Path

Note:  A path TO a Danger Zone enters the left side and a path FROM leaves the
       right side.


Shortest Path:

Start -> Green Path -> Desert -> Blue Path -> Cavern -> Blue Path -> Drawbridge
-> Red Path -> Castle Hall -> Only Path -> Evil Master 

*******************************************************************************
VI.    Danger Zones

...............................................................................
A.  Desert

Your biggest concern here are the spiders and scorpions that appear from the
left and right sides of the screen.  You need to pay close attention to your
friends when they are on the edges of the screen because the spiders/scorpions
can appear without warning.

Vultures are the other threat.  They fly in from the sides of the screen.
Vultures will sometimes fly harmlessly over your friends head and other times
will swoop down to attack.

The snakes and rabbits are will NOT attack your friends.  Rabbits will move
quickly from left to right across the entire screen.  Snakes stay stationary.

The treasure in this Danger Zone is a green emerald worth 2,500 points.  You
can't shoot the emerald, one of your friends must collect it by walking over
it.

When you successfully cross the Desert, you will be joined by the Barbarian.

Red Path leads to Volcano
Green Path leads to Village
Blue Path leads to Cavern

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Snake                  |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Rabbit                 |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Vulture                |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Scorpion               |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Ant                    |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Emerald                |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
B.  Caverns

There are two large stalactites swaying from the ceiling, you need to shoot
them so they will fall and fill in the two crevasses so your friends can cross.

The two threats here are the bats and the falling stalactites.

The treasure here is a treasure chest worth 2,500 points.

After completing this Danger Zone a Wizard will join your party.

Red Path leads to Desert
Green Path leads to Jungle
Blue Path leads to Drawbridge

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Bat                    |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Ghost                  |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Falling stalactite     |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Hanging stalactite     |       0 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Treasure chest         |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
C.  Volcano

As soon as the stage begins you need to shoot the red rock in the center of
the screen so it will tip over and create a bridge over the lava flow.

The only threat here are the falling rocks from the eruption.

The treasure is a white diamond worth 2,500 points.

After completing this Danger Zone a Hobbit will join your party.

Red Path leads to River
Green Path leads to Desert
Blue Path leads to Jungle

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Burning Lava           |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Falling rock           |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Resting rock           |       0 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Diamond                |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
D.  Jungle

This is the most difficult Danger Zone by far!  There are two threats here:
the monkeys throw fast moving coconuts/toucans that are hard to hit and the
voracious plants that pop up at the bottom of the screen.

The plants will pop up in the two "dips" in the foliage at the bottom of the
screen.  Make sure to pay close attention when your friends are nearby because
the plants will pop up suddenly without warning.  The best way to deal with the
monkeys is to shoot them as soon as they appear, before they can start throwing
coconuts.

The Jungle's treasure is a magic lamp worth 2,500 points.

After completing the Danger Zone a Ranger will join your party.

Red Path leads to Drawbridge
Green Path leads to Desert
Blue Path leads to Cavern

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Coconut                |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Voracious plant        |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Toucan                 |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Monkey                 |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Magic lamp             |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
E.  Village

The village is one of the busiest Danger Zones.  The threats here are the
ghosts, lightning bolts, and fireballs thrown by the witch.  The witch will
usually appear either on the roof of the center house or above the rightmost
streetlight.  Shoot her quickly before she has a chance to conjure a fireball.
Ghosts will appear on the far right of the screen and fly towards the left.

Treasure is bar of gold worth 2,500 points.

You do not get a new Friend upon completing the village.

Red Path leads to Volcano
Green Path leads to River
Blue Path leads to Desert

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Lightning bolt         |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Fireball               |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Wolf                   |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Ghost                  |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Witch                  |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Agents in windows      |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Streetlight            |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Gold bar               |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
F.  River

You only have to worry about two threats here: the boulders and the
pterodactyls.  Boulders appear on the right side of the screen and bounce
towards the left.  Pterodactyls will appear on the left side of the screen
(they make a noise right before appearing) then fly towards the right.

There is no treasure at the River.

After successfully crossing the River, an Amazon will join your party.

Red Path leads to Volcano
Green Path leads to Jungle
Blue Path leads to N/A

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Alligator              |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Frog                   |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Fish                   |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Bird                   |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Slime monster          |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Boulder                |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Pterodactyl            |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
G.  Drawbridge

You need to shoot two ropes holding up the drawbridge to lower it over the
moat.  The archers are deadly, shoot them as soon as they appear.  If they
manage to get off a shot, don't panic, you can shoot the arrows.  Keep a close
eye on the left side of the screen for pterodactyls (they'll make a sound right
before they appear).

There is no treasure nor new friend in this Danger Zone.

Red Path leads to Castle Hall
Green Path leads to Cavern
Blue Path leads to Jungle

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Pterodactyl            |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Alligator              |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Archer                 |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Arrow                  |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
H.  Castle Hall

Shoot Dragon as soon as he appears to prevent him from spitting fireballs.
Collecting the treasure causes arrows to shoot from right wall.  The treasure
is sitting on a trap door.  Once a Friend reaches the trap door the sceptre
will glow, shoot it to open the trap door and allow your Friend to drop down.
Repeat until all your Friends are through.

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Statue's staff         |   2,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Dagger                 |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Arrow                  |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Face in the wall       |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Dragon's fire          |   1,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Torch                  |     500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Pile of Gold           |   2,500 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   The Evil Master's Eye  |   5,000 pts |
\========================================/

...............................................................................
I.  Evil Master

BEWARE FOOLISH MORTAL

FOR I AM THE MASTER OF DARKNESS.

I HAVE WATCHED YOU CONQUER MY FORCES.

NOW PREPARE TO FACE ME!

Shoot him in the eyes!  Once you've destroyed one of his eyes, the remaining
eye will fire a lightning bolt at your Friend.  I've never been able to stop
it so I don't know if it's possible to save your Friend.  That being the case
you will need to reach this stage with at least TWO Friends if you want to beat
the game!

/========================================\
|                 SCORING                |
|--------------------------+-------------|
| Target                   | Points      |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Red eye                |   5,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   White eye              |   1,000 pts |
|--------------------------+-------------|
|   Defeat Evil Master     | 250,000 pts |
\========================================/

You have defeated me and my legions.

Try again if you dare.

You will be taken back to the start to play again.  Your score and surviving
Friends are saved.  You will NOT be able to recruit Friends from previously
beaten Danger Zones BUT you CAN get new Friends if you beat Danger Zones you
haven't visited before.

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VII.   Game Review

Crossbow is a port of the arcade classic.  The goal is to guide your companions
through the eight Danger Zones and defeat the Evil Master...while collecting
treasure of course!

The game is played using the XG-1 light gun.  It's not the most accurate light
gun ever produced but it's passable.  Fortunately, unlike Bug Hunt, accuracy
isn't the main objective in Crossbow.  Having unlimited ammo helps too ;)
That doesn't mean you can just "spray and pray", your companions can be killed
by friendly fire so you have to shoot with care.

Graphically the game ranks among the best the Atari 8-bit computer line has to
offer.  Animations are fairly smooth and the colorful environments are a
welcome change from Bug Hunt's green monochrome.

The game's branching paths are both its biggest strength and biggest weakness.
After completing a danger zone you get to choose between three paths.  At the
time, most games were more or less linear, so allowing the player to choose
like this was pretty innovative.

The problem is that the paths are only identified by color and you can't tell
what your destination is until after you've made your selection.  To make
matters worse, oftentimes a path will take you to a danger zone you've already
visited.  If you don't have a map it's easy to get lost.

Minor gripes aside, Crossbow is an excellent port of the original and will
definitely hold your interest longer than Bug Hunt.  I highly recommend it for
any Atari XE fan with an XG-1!

Pros

+  Multiple paths add to the game's depth and replay value.
+  Nice graphics for an 8-bit Atari game.
+  Much more fun than Bug Hunt!

Cons

-  Easy to get lost if you don't have a map.
-  For some reason shots are off slightly to the left of where you aim.

*******************************************************************************
VIII.  Version History

1.0   12/26/11   Completed FAQ.

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IX.    Contact Information

You can contact me at Bhodges080@aol.com

Please leave constructive comments.  I especially appreciate emails letting me
know if I have made a mistake, missed anything, or if you have any ideas for
improving this FAQ.

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End